Calorifier is it worth it

[KAM]

My calorifier recently leaked. It's fixed now but wondering If its really worth refitting. It's a lot of extra weight and complexity. We sail a lot but never use marinas. Its usually only luke warm in the mornings. Was just wondering If a kettle now and again would be a better option. Anyone else discarded their calorifier.

 

[B27]

Having ample hot water for washing up and cleaning is a Good Thing, IMHO.

I assume we are talking about a basic boat with no shower?

 

[johnalison]

I think you can only answer for yourself. We sailed for thirty years without hot water on board but the presence of hot water on tap does wonders for morale on a long passage. However, our long cruises at the time meant quite a lot of motoring, so hot water was usually available. If you can get by with a kettle and can’t usually provide hot rather than warm water then the economy of doing without could we’ll be the right choice.

 

[dunedin]

For us it is an essential. Brief hot shower before bed each day is a priority. Amazingly seems to keep enough hot water for next morning doing dishes etc.

 

[vyv_cox]

If working correctly 20.minutes of motoring even with a raw water cooled engine should give plentiful hot water. An indirectly cooled engine should be better.

 

[scottie]

My calorifier recently leaked. It's fixed now but wondering If its really worth refitting. It's a lot of extra weight and complexity. We sail a lot but never use marinas. Its usually only luke warm in the mornings. Was just wondering If a kettle now and again would be a better option. Anyone else discarded their calorifier.

What is the engine ?

 

[ashtead]

Westerly never had such modern devices but we survived however having a hot shower off the stern after a cold swim does make life more comfortable in uk at least but I guess if no shower fitted might be less useful if you have a kettle to boil to wash up

 

[KAM]

Its a 3ym30 the water heats very quickly but it's also 50kg extra weight. We have a shower but the heads compartment has a lot of nice teak detailing not one of your modern grp jobs. Not sure it would stand regular use of the shower. Also we're not sailing where we can fill tanks regularly so tend to conserve water. Bathing when it occurs is usually in a loch or burn. 50kg extra weight for a luke warm morning wash vs kettle?

 

[ashtead]

All I can say is when in some foreign marina showering on board can often be simpler than the use of the token jeton ashore

 

[Neeves]

We used an instant gas hot water heater. You can source them such they are not much bigger than a small briefcase - but you obviously need gas.

Those who have converted large-scale to Lithium can use an immersion heater. I think you can source instant electric hot water heaters but they need a pretty powerful heater.

Using a kettle - back to the early 19th Century - I suspect the absence of hot water might make selling the yacht slightly more difficult.

Jonathan

 

[William_H]

Not with standing loss of retail value, the OP should know from his experience and sailing / camping habits if he needs the calorifier. ol'will

 

[mrangry]

For the sake of a few hundred quid a calorifier is a no brainer for me. A fairly simple set up consisting of a calorifier, pump, accumulator and some pipe work. Getting hot water from motoring for a while is a godsend after a days sailing.

 

[scottie]

Its a 3ym30 the water heats very quickly but it's also 50kg extra weight. We have a shower but the heads compartment has a lot of nice teak detailing not one of your modern grp jobs. Not sure it would stand regular use of the shower. Also we're not sailing where we can fill tanks regularly so tend to conserve water. Bathing when it occurs is usually in a loch or burn. 50kg extra weight for a luke warm morning wash vs kettle?

Is that fresh water cooled
Sea water cooled requires lower thermostat settings and affects calorifier temperature

 

[Fr J Hackett]

What sized boat? 50kg is insignificant on most if not all cruising boats.

 

[ylop]

What size caloriesr 50kg sounds quite big (I’ve never lifted an empty one). The water it contains is water you are going to use anyway even if you boil a kettle so I think you may be double counting?

 

[vyv_cox]

Is that fresh water cooled
Sea water cooled requires lower thermostat settings and affects calorifier temperature

Raw water cooled engines can heat a calorifier to well above a temperature that you can put your hands into. Calorifier installation

 

[awol]

I'd junk it. It encourages crew to wash and waste water, some even wash their hair! Unless you have another 50kg of watermaker, of course.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

+1 on junking it, you just need a damp flannel to keep the smell away and greasy pallor at bay.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I don't know if some of the posts are tongue in cheek but if they are not there must be a few hair shirt wearing smelly buggers out there, I wouldn't want to be downwind of them.

 

[Daverw]

As said above, you will be carrying the weight of water anyway just in a different tank, if you take out clorifier you will also reduce your water capacity